I, of all people, am a little softer than you guys on these kinds of calls.
Me: I'm just calling to confirm your order. (Go thru details of order) As you know, per our contract final payment was due (insert date.) I can't seem to find in my records where I received your payment. Could you verify your check number, or the date you made your online payment, please?
Bride: I'll just pay you at the reception.
Me: Well, if the cake is not paid in full, I won't be coming to the reception with cake. Per our contract, you'll need to bring cash, or make an online payment by (insert time).
Bride: Oh, OK!
IsaSW Regular Member
Joined: Jul 01, 2009
Posts: 129
Location: Virginia
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:21 pm
You guys are all right about everything. Its true, I have to be firm, it's just that I have spoken to her so many times it feels like she is my friend. But she is not, she is just a customer, like one of you said, I cannot get my feelings involved. And yes I got my 50% up front. And yes she signed the contract, where it says Full payment due on Sept 18.
It's just that I want to make the cake so bad, it's going to be sooo pretty! But there is no way I am dragging all those tiers to the reception and not get a payment.
I will let you know what happens.
Thanks for all your advice.
K8memphis- Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 5158
Location: Memphis 10 C
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:26 pm
Leah, I felt she already did remind her without any response from the bride. Time's up.
dkelly Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 16, 2008
Posts: 3659
Location: Red Sox Nation
Birthday: Nov 16
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:36 pm
OK give me her number I'll call her.
I have no problem making these type of phone calls. I call however the next day after the balance was due, I don't wait a whole week. Now it's just 7 days before the wedding and no payment.
I'd already consider this one cancelled.
It's so important to remember that this is business, this isn't a friendship relationship.
Good luck with whatever happens, but please don't just let this go because you want to make the cake.
IsaSW Regular Member
Joined: Jul 01, 2009
Posts: 129
Location: Virginia
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:08 pm
So... I called her, got voicemail, left a message with everything you guys taught me here, payment already 1 week late, would have to cancel order if I don't here from you by tonight, bla, bla bla, etc, etc.
she called me an hour later... Told me she never recieved my first e-mail. She says she will have my payment monday. That is because I will be out of town this weekend, so I am giving her the weekend to come up with the $$
From now on I will follow what Deb said: call the next day after the due date. Why wait a whole week?, I was so busy with other things, I guess I didn't think about it too much, but you guys are so right, this is business, maybe I am being too nice.
I really hope she delivers the money monday.
I told her the gumpaste flowers look so beautiful, it would be a waste to have to cancel the order for no payment.
I will keep you posted.
And hopefully I will post here the cake picture the monday after the wedding.
cheesecakes galore Regular Member
Joined: May 01, 2008
Posts: 107
Location: Yosemite, Ky
Birthday: Jun 15
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:07 pm
I had a similar experience a couple months ago. The first time I have not received the final payment by the due date. I allowed 1 week extra same as you did. I then contacted her by email and she gave the same story about not receiving that email notice. But it ended up that she sent it out immediately. So you can give her the benefit of the doubt. She may be so worked up about all the wedding planning that she missed it, same as my bride did. Hopefully that's all it is.
debster Forum Fanatic
Joined: Nov 28, 2005
Posts: 1736
Posted:
Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:34 pm
I just tell them it's in the contract read it so I'm due to start your cake and it's not fully paid for so I'm calling to see if your going to still want the cake, if so it HAS to be paid now or the cake will not be started. I agree FIRM but honest. That's why I make it clear up front. Just last month someone said I'll give you the rest of the payment at the reception and I said if you would read the contract it says by check 30 days prior to Wedding if by cash 5 days prior to Wedding . She brought cash that night, I don't play that's a lot of work to get messed over financially by.
Irish245 Regular Member
Joined: Aug 06, 2006
Posts: 149
Location: Butler, PA (just north of Pittsburgh)
Birthday: Aug 02
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:13 am
I use this policy. 50% to book the date and 50% due 2 weeks before event. If balance is not paid by due date (and I put this right in my contract), I can choose to either cancel the order immediately with no refund of original deposit or I can choose to keep contract going with the consideration of immediate payment in cash PLUS 15% total price added on for late payment. Also, a month before the final payment is due (6 weeks before event), I mail an invoice stating total cost of cake, deposit made and the date and balance due and the date it is due, and stating the cancellation policy again. Since doing this, I've never even had a late payment.
indydebi Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22137
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:39 am
Irish245 wrote:
I use this policy. 50% to book the date and 50% due 2 weeks before event. If balance is not paid by due date (and I put this right in my contract), I can choose to either cancel the order immediately with no refund of original deposit or I can choose to keep contract going with the consideration of immediate payment......
Me too. 50% to book ... non-refundable. Balance due 2 weeks prior. Non-refundable. In bold lettering, in a section they have to initial, it states: "Payments not made on schedule will constitute a cancellation on the part of the client and CIS will not show up at the event."
Kitagrl Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 4061
Location: NE Philly suburbs
Birthday: Jan 31
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:39 am
I have had my comcast emails be bounced back by other providers but only once in awhile...hopefully your emails are getting through to everyone else!
I usually email brides 4-7 days before the final payment is due, just sending a friendly reminder that the payment date is coming up...because with everything else, alot of times they forget who they owe, what they owe, and when they owe it.
Hope this all works out! Your stuff is absolutely gorgeous on your website!
mommyle Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1087
Location: In the Kitchen, Calgary AB
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:48 am
Irish245 wrote:
I use this policy. 50% to book the date and 50% due 2 weeks before event. If balance is not paid by due date (and I put this right in my contract), I can choose to either cancel the order immediately with no refund of original deposit or I can choose to keep contract going with the consideration of immediate payment in cash PLUS 15% total price added on for late payment. Also, a month before the final payment is due (6 weeks before event), I mail an invoice stating total cost of cake, deposit made and the date and balance due and the date it is due, and stating the cancellation policy again. Since doing this, I've never even had a late payment.
I do the second 50% a month in advance. Just to be safe. I've never had a problem with this. people give me a cheque for the deposit, and a post dated cheque for the balance, they walk out the door, and only one person has ever called to check to see "how things are going".
Mensch Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 19, 2009
Posts: 687
Location: The Diogenes Club
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:41 pm
I do 120$ retainer upon ordering, and the remainder five weeks out.
SugarFrosted Forum Fanatic
Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 1824
Location: Little Rock, AR
Birthday: Jun 27
Posted:
Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:10 pm
IsaSW wrote:
So... I called her, got voicemail, left a message with everything you guys taught me here, payment already 1 week late, would have to cancel order if I don't here from you by tonight, bla, bla bla, etc, etc.
she called me an hour later... Told me she never recieved my first e-mail. She says she will have my payment monday. That is because I will be out of town this weekend, so I am giving her the weekend to come up with the $$
From now on I will follow what Deb said: call the next day after the due date. Why wait a whole week?, I was so busy with other things, I guess I didn't think about it too much, but you guys are so right, this is business, maybe I am being too nice.
I really hope she delivers the money monday.
I told her the gumpaste flowers look so beautiful, it would be a waste to have to cancel the order for no payment.
I will keep you posted.
And hopefully I will post here the cake picture the monday after the wedding.
I hope you made it clear that at this point you will accept only CASH.
dkelly Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 16, 2008
Posts: 3659
Location: Red Sox Nation
Birthday: Nov 16
Posted:
Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:48 pm
OK I'm dying to know, it's Monday.....did the bride pay you today as promised?
Motta Regular Member
Joined: Jun 19, 2009
Posts: 191
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Posted:
Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:57 pm
Yeah, I'm curious too! Please let us know either way. We won't judge you if you were still Miss Nicey-Nice. It's hard to be tough when you actually really want to do the cake.
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